A police officer watches cyclists in the final criterium race at the Halifax Commons on Sunday. After the race, the roadway will remain closed to cars from 2 to 5 p.m. for a public bike-themed street party.

The proposed roundabout at Novalea and Duffus, with the existing intersection shown inset. (Images created by HRM staff.)

HALIFAX — City traffic planners will host a public meeting on Wednesday to explain their take on roundabouts, specifically the one proposed for the intersection of Duffus, Novalea and Devonshire. The meeting will be held at St. Stephen’s School, 3669 Highland Avenue from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

City council has already approved the roundabout in principle. A recent city staff report in favour of roundabouts provided the diagram above, as well as proposed makeovers for the intersections of Cunard-Agricola-North Park (see below), Robie-Quinpool-Bell and North Park-Trollope-Cogswell-Ahern-Rainnie Drive.

Proposed Roundabout at Cunard-Agricola-North Park

The proposed roundabout at Cunard, Agricola and North Park, with the existing intersection shown inset. (Images created by HRM staff.)

HALIFAX — A forester using only climbing gear and a chain saw is in the final stretch of cutting down a seven-storey-high tree. The poplar is located in an Agricola Street backyard. Jamie Simpson was hired to remove the tree because the trunk was creeping too close to a home’s foundation. He makes his way through the tree by cutting off short branches and lowering them with the help of an assistant on the ground.

These pictures were taken Saturday afternoon.

A helper on the ground helps lower branches cut by the forester, seen here two-thirds of the way up the tree.

HALIFAX — Shifty winds and at least 30 kites danced above the Commons on Saturday afternoon. All the flying objects and variable gusts suggest that next year’s Kite Flying Festival could use an air traffic controller.

But a few crossed kite lines didn’t stop the fun.

Among the kites aloft were Chinese panel kites, tetrahedron-shaped cells and store-bought models decorated as butterflies, Spiderman and Barbie.

Rina Otero, director of King’s View Academy, said the school wanted to organize a festival that tapped into an activity shared by cultures around the world. Students attended a kite-building workshop in preparation for the day. She said Saturday’s cool, cloudy weather didn’t disrupt the inaugural event.

“For a beginning, I think it’s great. There are a lot of people out here that we don’t know,” said Otero.

She hopes to have musicians and involve vendors selling international foods at next year’s event.

HALIFAX — A fresh garden plot has appeared on the south side of the fountain in the middle of the Halifax Common. The gardener has planted three flowers and a multi-coloured sign with a message that could be interpreted as anti-Black Eyed Peas. Do any readers know who authored the sign? Was it put up in a splash of publicity, or in the dark of night?